Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
Birth Name:
Aunjanue L. Ellis
Birth Place:
San Francisco, California, United States
Profession
Actress, Producer, Soundtrack
Fast Facts
- Was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture for "Ray" in 2005
- Won several awards for her role in "The Help," including a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award
- Attended Tougaloo College before transferring to Brown University, from which she graduated with a degree in African-American studies
- Studied acting at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and also learned some circus skills
- Her first big role came as Ariel in "The Tempest" opposite Patrick Stewart in 1995
- Quote: "I dream to play roles where not only are the characters' backs against the wall, but the wall sometimes is the only thing holding them up․ On a resume, under qualifications, they would write 'been to hell and back for more because I can take it․'"
- Quote: "[on "Abducted: The Carlina White Story"] "Pain doesn't have a face and pain doesn't have a certain way of adjusting․ Pain is universal․ This was a woman who was wrong, but if you are desperate enough, what do you think you would do?""
- Best known for playing Yule Mae Davis in "The Help," Mary Ann Fisher in "Ray" and Jo in "Men of Honor․"
- Her co-star in "The Tempest," Carrie Preston, also appeared in a Bell South phone commercial with her
Awards
- 2001Image Award - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2003Black Reel - Theatrical - Best Actress:Nominated
- 2005Actor - Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2010Image Award - Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special:Nominated
- 2011Hollywood Film Award - Ensemble of the Year:Winner
- 2011NBR Award - Best Acting by an Ensemble:Winner
- 2011Special Achievement Award - Best Ensemble, Motion Picture:Winner
- 2011SEFCA Award - Best Ensemble:Winner
- 2011WFCC Award - Women's Work/Best Ensemble:Winner
- 2012COFCA Award - Best Ensemble:Nominated
- 2013Black Reel - Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Female:Winner
- 2014Best Performance by an ActressWinner
- 2014Jury Award - Best Actress:Winner
- 2015Critics' Choice TV Award - Best Actress in a Movie/Limited Series:Nominated
- 2015OFTA Television Award - Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries:Nominated
- 2016Black Reel - Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series:Nominated
- 2016Canadian Screen Award - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series:Winner
- 2016Gracie - Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama Special:Winner
- 2016Image Award - Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special:Nominated
- 2016Satellite Award - Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television:Nominated
- 2019AAFCA Award - Best Ensemble:Winner
- 2019Black Reel - Outstanding Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series:Nominated
- 2019OFTA Television Award - Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Limited Series:Winner
- 2019Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie:Nominated
- 2019Satellite Award - Best Actress in a Miniseries & Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television:Nominated
- 2020Black Reel - Outstanding Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series:Nominated
- 2020Festival Award - Best Actress:Nominated
- 2020Image Award - Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special:Nominated
- 2020Jury Prize - Special Mention for Outstanding Performance:Winner
- 2020Newark IFF Award - Best Feature Actress:Winner
- 2020Festival Prize - Outstanding Performance in a Narrative Feature:Winner
- 2020WIN Award - Actress Made For Television Movie / Limited Series:Nominated
- 2021Actor - Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:Nominated
- 2021BFCC Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
- 2021Black Reel - Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama Series:Nominated
- 2021DFWFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2021DFCS Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2021GWNYFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2021Image Award - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:Nominated
- 2021Image Award - Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special:Nominated
- 2021IFJA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2021LAFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2021Vision Award - Best Performance - Drama:Winner
- 2021NBR Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
- 2021NFCS Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
- 2021OFTA Television Award - Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:Nominated
- 2021Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:Nominated
- 2021SEFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2021SLFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2021SFC Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2021WAFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
- 2022Movies for Grownups Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
- 2022ACCEC Award - Favorite Supporting Actress in a Movie:Winner
- 2022Oscar - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:Nominated
- 2022Actor - Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2022AAFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
- 2022EDA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022BAFTA Film Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022BET Award - Best Actress:Nominated
- 2022Black Reel - Outstanding Supporting Actress:Winner
- 2022CIC Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022COFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022CACF Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
- 2022Critics Choice Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022DFCS Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022DFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2022Golden Schmoes - Best Supporting Actress of the Year:Nominated
- 2022HFCS Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022HCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022HFCS Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022Image Award - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2022ICFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022MNFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022NCFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022OFTA Film Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022OFCS Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2022Ensemble Cast AwardWinner
- 2022Satellite Award - Best Actress in a Supporting Role:Nominated
- 2022SFCS Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2023BFCC Award - Best Actress:Winner
- 2023Gotham Independent Film Award - Outstanding Lead Performance:Nominated
- 2023WAFCA Award - Best Actress:Nominated
- 2023WFCC Award - Best Actress:Nominated
- 2024Movies for Grownups Award - Best Actress:Nominated
- 2024Actor - Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2024AAFCA Award - Best Actress:Winner
- 2024Astra Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2024Black Reel - Outstanding Lead Performance:Nominated
- 2024Black Reel - Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series:Nominated
- 2024C&I TV Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2024Critics Choice Award - Best Actress in a Drama Series:Nominated
- 2024FFCC Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2024Image Award - Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2024Sierra Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2024NTFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2024SLFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
- 2024WAFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2025Movies for Grownups Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2025EDA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2025Black Reel - Outstanding Supporting Performance:Nominated
- 2025Black Reel - Outstanding Supporting Performance:Nominated
- 2025Black Reel - Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series:Nominated
- 2025Windie - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2025CinEuphoria - Best Ensemble - International Competition:Nominated
- 2025COFCA Award - Best Supporting Performance:Nominated
- 2025Critics Choice Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2025DFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2025Dorian Award - Supporting Film Performance of the Year:Nominated
- 2025GAFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2025Gotham TV Award - Outstanding Performance in an Original Film:Nominated
- 2025Image Award - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2025Image Award - Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie):Nominated
- 2025Image Award - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2025ICS Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2025NSFC Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2025NCFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2025NDFS Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
- 2025OFCS Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated